U.S. patent application number 14/119489 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-01 for external handle device for vehicle door.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA LOCK. The applicant listed for this patent is Tadashi Saitou. Invention is credited to Tadashi Saitou.
Application Number | 20140117683 14/119489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47258851 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140117683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saitou; Tadashi |
May 1, 2014 |
EXTERNAL HANDLE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE DOOR
Abstract
An external handle device for a vehicle door has one end part of
an operating handle supported by a support member mounted on a door
having one end part supported on a vehicle body, and a holder for
housing and holding an electrical component mounted on a base
member. A mounting portion mounted on an end wall on the other end
side of the door has a mounting hole obliquely intersecting an
outer panel and is provided integrally with the base member, an
engagement hole extending along the axis of the mounting hole and
having one end opening in a blocked part at the inner end of the
mounting hole is provided in the mounting portion so that the other
end opens on the periphery of the mounting portion, and an
engagement projection that engages with the other end part of the
engagement hole is provided on a holder.
Inventors: |
Saitou; Tadashi;
(Miyazaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Saitou; Tadashi |
Miyazaki-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA LOCK
MIYAZAKI-SHI, MIYAZAKI
JP
|
Family ID: |
47258851 |
Appl. No.: |
14/119489 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
February 21, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/054052 |
371 Date: |
November 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/336.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 79/06 20130101;
E05B 85/16 20130101; Y10T 292/57 20150401; E05B 81/76 20130101;
E05B 1/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
292/336.3 |
International
Class: |
E05B 1/00 20060101
E05B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 27, 2011 |
JP |
2011-118615 |
Claims
1. An external handle device for a vehicle door, comprising an
operating handle (13) having a grip portion (13a) that is formed so
as to be long and is disposed outside an outer panel (18) forming
part of a door (D) having one end part pivotably supported on a
vehicle body (B), a support member (14) that is mounted on the door
(D) so as to pivotably support one end part of the operating handle
(13), a base member (15) that is made of a synthetic resin and is
mounted on the door (D) so as to correspond to the other end part
of the operating handle (13), and a holder (17, 89) that is mounted
on the base member (15) so as to house and hold an electrical
component (16, 90), characterized in that a bottomed mounting hole
(33) is provided in a mounting portion (15c) provided integrally
with the base member (15), the bottomed mounting hole (33) being
for mounting the mounting portion (15c) on an end wall (38) on the
other end side of the door (D) and opening on the end wall (38)
side, an engagement hole (66) extending in a direction along an
axis of the mounting hole (33) and having one end opening in a
blocked part at an inner end of the mounting hole (33) is provided
in the mounting portion (15c) so that the other end thereof opens
on an outer periphery of the mounting portion (15c), and an
engagement projection (17c, 89c) that engages with said other end
part of the engagement hole (66) is provided on the holder (17,
89).
2. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
1, wherein the electrical component (16) is a switch that is turned
ON/OFF by an operation of a vehicle user in order to show at least
one of an intention to lock and an intention to unlock the door
(D).
3. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
1, wherein the electrical component (90) is a camera that takes an
image of the outside of the vehicle or an approach sensor that
detects the approach of a person.
4. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
1, wherein the holder (17) in a state in which the engagement
projection (17c, 89c) is engaged with the engagement hole (66) is
secured to the base member (15) by means of one securing member
(73).
5. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
1, wherein a seal member (28) is fitted to a mounting face (74)
that is formed on the base member (15) and faces the outer panel
(18) side, the seal member (28) being held between the outer panel
(18) and the mounting face (74) in a state in which the base member
(15) is mounted on the door (D), and an engagement ear portion
(17e, 89e) is provided on the holder (17, 89) so as to be flush
with the mounting face (74) and protrude sideways from the holder
(17, 89), the engagement ear portion (17e, 89e) abutting against
and engaging with the seal member (28) from the side opposite to
the outer panel (18).
6. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
5, wherein a holder receiving face (86) and a positioning
projection (87) are provided on the base member (15), the holder
receiving face (86) abutting against the holder (17) from the side
opposite to a direction in which the outer panel (18) abuts against
the engagement ear portion (17e, 89e) via the seal member (28) and
the positioning projection (87) protruding from the holder
receiving face (86), and a fitting hole (71) is provided in the
holder (17, 89), the positioning projection (87) being fitted into
the fitting hole (71).
7. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
1, wherein the holder (17) has a peripheral wall portion (17b)
surrounding the electrical component (16) from the periphery, and a
slit (68) is provided in the peripheral wall portion (17b), a
harness (64) being capable of being inserted through the slit (68),
and the harness (64) having one end part connected to the
electrical component (16).
8. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
7, wherein a pair of the engagement projections (17c) are
projectingly provided on the peripheral wall portion (17b) so as to
sandwich the slit (68) therebetween.
9. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to claim
2, wherein the holder (17) in a state in which the engagement
projection (17c, 89c) is engaged with the engagement hole (66) is
secured to the base member (15) by means of one securing member
(73).
10. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to
claim 3, wherein the holder (17) in a state in which the engagement
projection (17c, 89c) is engaged with the engagement hole (66) is
secured to the base member (15) by means of one securing member
(73).
11. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to
claim 2, wherein a seal member (28) is fitted to a mounting face
(74) that is formed on the base member (15) and faces the outer
panel (18) side, the seal member (28) being held between the outer
panel (18) and the mounting face (74) in a state in which the base
member (15) is mounted on the door (D), and an engagement ear
portion (17e, 89e) is provided on the holder (17, 89) so as to be
flush with the mounting face (74) and protrude sideways from the
holder (17, 89), the engagement ear portion (17e, 89e) abutting
against and engaging with the seal member (28) from the side
opposite to the outer panel (18).
12. The external handle device for a vehicle door according to
claim 3, wherein a seal member (28) is fitted to a mounting face
(74) that is formed on the base member (15) and faces the outer
panel (18) side, the seal member (28) being held between the outer
panel (18) and the mounting face (74) in a state in which the base
member (15) is mounted on the door (D), and an engagement ear
portion (17e, 89e) is provided on the holder (17, 89) so as to be
flush with the mounting face (74) and protrude sideways from the
holder (17, 89), the engagement ear portion (17e, 89e) abutting
against and engaging with the seal member (28) from the side
opposite to the outer panel (18).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an external handle device
for a vehicle door, the external handle device including an
operating handle having a grip portion that is formed so as to be
long and is disposed outside an outer panel forming part of a door
having one end part pivotably supported on a vehicle body, a
support member that is mounted on the door so as to pivotably
support one end part of the operating handle, a base member that is
made of a synthetic resin and is mounted on the door so as to
correspond to the other end part the operating handle, and a holder
that is mounted on the base member so as to house and hold an
electrical component.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A structure in which a switch that is turned ON/OFF by an
operation of locking a door by a vehicle user is secured and fixed
by two mounting screws to a base member mounted on a door panel is
known from Patent Document 1.
RELATED ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-145228
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, in the structure disclosed by Patent Document 1
above, the number of components or the number of assembly steps for
fixing the switch to the base member is large, thus giving rise to
the problem that the cost increases.
[0005] Consideration could therefore be given to forming an
engagement hole in the base member, engaging a holder with the
engagement hole so as to carry out provisional positioning, and
tightening and fixing the holder to the base member by means of one
screw member, thus reducing the number of components and the number
of assembly steps, but a mold structure for forming the engagement
hole in the base member, which is to be molded, would become
complicated, thus causing an increase in the cost.
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished in light of such
circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide an external
handle device for a vehicle door that enables the number of
components and the number of assembly steps to be reduced when
fixing an electrical component to a base member and that also
enables the cost to be reduced.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] In order to attain the above object, according to a first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided an external
handle device for a vehicle door, comprising an operating handle
having a grip portion that is formed so as to be long and is
disposed outside an outer panel forming part of a door having one
end part pivotably supported on a vehicle body, a support member
that is mounted on the door so as to pivotably support one end part
of the operating handle, a base member that is made of a synthetic
resin and is mounted on the door so as to correspond to the other
end part of the operating handle, and a holder that is mounted on
the base member so as to house and hold an electrical component,
characterized in that a bottomed mounting hole is provided in a
mounting portion provided integrally with the base member, the
bottomed mounting hole being for mounting the mounting portion on
an end wall on the other end side of the door and opening on the
end wall side, an engagement hole extending in a direction along an
axis of the mounting hole and having one end opening in a blocked
part at an inner end of the mounting hole is provided in the
mounting portion so that the other end thereof opens on an outer
periphery of the mounting portion, and an engagement projection
that engages with the other end part of the engagement hole is
provided on the holder.
[0008] Further, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first aspect, the electrical
component is a switch that is turned ON/OFF by an operation of a
vehicle user in order to show at least one of an intention to lock
and an intention to unlock the door.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the first aspect, the electrical component is a camera
that takes an image of the outside of the vehicle or an approach
sensor that detects the approach of a person.
[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to any one of the first to third aspects, the holder in a
state in which the engagement projection is engaged with the
engagement hole is secured to the base member by means of one
securing member.
[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to any one of the first to third aspects, a seal member is
fitted to a mounting face that is formed on the base member and
faces the outer panel side, the seal member being held between the
outer panel and the mounting face in a state in which the base
member is mounted on the door, and an engagement ear portion is
provided on the holder so as to be flush with the mounting face and
protrude sideways from the holder, the engagement ear portion
abutting against and engaging with the seal member from the side
opposite to the outer panel.
[0012] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the fifth aspect, a holder receiving face and a
positioning projection are provided on the base member, the holder
receiving face abutting against the holder from the side opposite
to a direction in which the outer panel abuts against the
engagement ear portion via the seal member and the positioning
projection protruding from the holder receiving face, and a fitting
hole is provided in the holder, the positioning projection being
fitted into the fitting hole.
[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the first aspect, the holder has a peripheral wall
portion surrounding the electrical component from the periphery,
and a slit is provided in the peripheral wall portion, a harness
being capable of being inserted through the slit, and the harness
having one end part connected to the electrical component.
[0014] Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, a pair of the
engagement projections are projectingly provided on the peripheral
wall portion so as to sandwich the slit therebetween.
[0015] A second seal member 28 of an embodiment corresponds to the
seal member of the present invention, a screw member 73 of the
embodiment corresponds to the securing member of the present
invention, and a front side door D of the embodiment corresponds to
the door of the present invention.
Effects of the Invention
[0016] In accordance with the first to eighth aspects of the
present invention, since the engagement hole, with which the
engagement projection provided on the holder for holding the
electrical component is engaged, is provided in the base member,
when fixing the electrical component to the base member it is
possible to decrease the number of screw members, thus reducing the
number of components and the number of assembly steps. Moreover,
since the engagement hole is provided in the mounting portion
provided integrally with the base member so as to be mounted on the
end wall on said other end side of the door having said one end
part pivotably supported on the vehicle body, extends in the
direction along the axis of the bottomed mounting hole of the
mounting portion, and is formed so that one end opens in the
blocked part at inner end of the mounting hole and the other end
opens on the outer periphery of the mounting portion, it is
possible to avoid the structure of a mold used when molding the
base member becoming complicated, thus reducing the cost in
combination with reducing the number of components and the number
of assembly steps.
[0017] Furthermore, in accordance with the fourth aspect in
particular, since the holder in which the engagement projection is
engaged with the engagement hole is secured to the base member by
means of one securing member, it is possible to minimize the
components required for fixing an electrical component to the base
member, thus reducing the number of components and the number of
assembly steps.
[0018] In accordance with the fifth aspect in particular, since the
seal member is fitted to the mounting face formed on the base
member and facing the outer panel side, and the engagement ear
portion abutting against and engaging with the seal member from the
side opposite to the outer panel is provided on the holder so as to
be flush with the mounting face, it is possible to provisionally
assemble the holder on the base member before the base member is
assembled on the door. Moreover, even if a force acts on the holder
from outside the door, part of the force is received by the door
panel to thus reduce the load acting on the portion of the holder
mounted on the base member.**Furthermore, by sandwiching the seal
member between the outer panel and the base member the occurrence
of noise can be prevented, and when the base member is made of a
metal it is possible to prevent the base member from coming into
direct contact with outer panel, thus preventing metal-to-metal
contact.
[0019] In accordance with the sixth aspect in particular, since the
holder receiving face provided on the base member abuts against the
holder from the side opposite to the direction in which the outer
panel abuts against the engagement ear portion via the seal member,
and the positioning projection protruding from the holder receiving
face is fitted into the fitting hole provided in the holder, when
provisionally assembling the holder on the base member by making
the engagement ear portion of the holder, from the side opposite to
the outer panel, abut against and engage with the seal member
fitted on the mounting face of the base member, it is possible to
reliably provisionally assemble the holder on the base member and,
moreover, since the holder is sandwiched between the seal member
and the holder receiving face, it is possible to fix the holder to
the base member and the door in a state in which the base member is
mounted on the door, and when fixing the holder to the base member
it is unnecessary to use a securing member, thus further reducing
the number of components.
[0020] In accordance with the seventh aspect in particular, since
the slit is provided in the peripheral wall portion of the holder,
which surrounds the electrical component from the periphery, the
harness having one end part connected to the electrical component
being capable of being inserted through the slit, even when a
coupler is provided on the other end part of the harness or a
portion of the harness projecting from the holder is clad with a
cover, it is possible to facilitate the assembly of the electrical
component having the harness connected thereto on the holder.
[0021] Furthermore, in accordance with the eighth aspect in
particular, since the pair of engagement projections are
projectingly provided on the peripheral wall portion so as to
sandwich the slit therebetween, it is possible to flex the
peripheral wall portion so that the two engagement projections move
closer to or further away from each other, thus facilitating the
operation of engaging the engagement projection with the engagement
hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger vehicle of a
first embodiment. (first embodiment)
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an essential part of FIG. 1 in
an enlarged manner. (first embodiment)
[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. (first
embodiment)
[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 4 in
FIG. 3. (first embodiment)
[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view from arrowed line 5-5 in FIG. 3.
(first embodiment)
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along line 6-6 in FIG.
2. (first embodiment)
[0028] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a base member and
a second seal member when a second nut is not fixed. (first
embodiment)
[0029] FIG. 8 is a view, corresponding to FIG. 5, of a second
embodiment. (second embodiment)
[0030] FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. (second
embodiment)
[0031] FIG. 10 is a view, corresponding to FIG. 5, of a third
embodiment. (third embodiment)
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS
[0032] 13 Operating handle [0033] 13a Grip portion [0034] 14
Support member [0035] 15 Base member [0036] 15c Mounting portion
[0037] 16 Switch, which is an electrical component [0038] 17, 89
Holder [0039] 17b Peripheral wall portion [0040] 17c, 89c
Engagement projection [0041] 17e, 89e Engagement ear portion [0042]
18 Outer panel [0043] 28 Second seal member, which is a seal member
[0044] 33 Mounting hole [0045] 38 End wall [0046] 64 Harness [0047]
66 Engagement hole [0048] 68 Slit [0049] 71 Fitting hole [0050] 73
Screw member, which is a securing member [0051] 74 Mounting face
[0052] 86 Holder receiving face [0053] 87 Positioning projection
[0054] 90 Electrical component [0055] B Vehicle body [0056] D Front
side door, which is a door
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0057] Modes for carrying out the present invention are explained
below by reference to the attached drawings.
First Embodiment
[0058] A first embodiment of the present invention is explained by
reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. First, in FIG. 1, one end part
(front end part) of a door, for example a front side door D, of
this passenger vehicle is pivotably supported on a vehicle body B,
and a door mirror 11 is disposed in a front part of the front side
door D. Furthermore, an external handle device 12 in accordance
with the present invention is mounted on the other end side, that
is the rear end side, of the front side door D.
[0059] Referring in addition to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the external
handle device 12 includes an operating handle 13, a support member
14 mounted on the front side door D so as to pivotably support one
end part of the operating handle 13, a base member 15 made of a
synthetic resin and mounted on the front side door D so as to
correspond to the other end part of the operating handle 13, and a
holder 17 mounted on the base member 15 so as to house and hold as
an electrical component a switch 16 that is turned ON/OFF by an
operation of a vehicle user in order to show at least one of an
intention to lock and an intention to unlock the front side door
D.
[0060] The operating handle 13 is pivotably supported on an outer
panel 18 forming part of the front side door D, and is formed from
a hard synthetic resin while having a grip portion 13a that is
formed into a long shape so as to extend in the fore-and-aft
direction of the vehicle (the left-and-right direction in FIG. 2)
while enabling the vehicle user to grip it and is disposed outside
the outer panel 18, a support arm portion 13b that is provided so
as to be connected integrally to one end part of the grip portion
13a (a front end part along the fore-and-aft direction of the
vehicle in this embodiment), and a guide arm portion 13c that is
provided so as to be connected integrally to the other end part of
the grip portion 13a (a rear end part along the fore-and-aft
direction of the vehicle in this embodiment).
[0061] Furthermore, the support member 14, which is formed from a
hard synthetic resin, is mounted on the outer panel 18 on one end
side of the operating handle 13, and the base member 15, which is
formed from a hard synthetic resin, is mounted on the outer panel
18 on the other end side of the operating handle 13.
[0062] A curved portion 18a is provided on the outer panel 18 so as
to protrude inwardly in order to form a depression 19 that enables
a hand of the vehicle user to be inserted between the grip portion
13a of the operating handle 13 and the outer panel 18, and first
and second mounting seats 21 and 22 are provided on an outer face
of the outer panel 18 at positions sandwiching the curved portion
18a from opposite sides to the front and to the rear along the
fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.
[0063] A thin flat plate-shaped first seal member 23 formed from a
synthetic resin is disposed between the support member 14 and the
first mounting seat 21. Moreover, a handle support portion 14a is
provided integrally with the support member 14, the handle support
portion 14a extending through the first seal member 23 and the
outer panel 18 and being inserted inside the outer panel 18.
Furthermore, a first nut 24 made of metal is embedded in a face of
the support member 14 facing the outer panel 18, and by screwing
into the first nut 24 a first bolt 25 inserted through the outer
panel 18 from the inside and tightening, the support member 14 is
mounted on the first mounting seat 21 of the outer panel 18.
[0064] The support arm portion 13b is bent into a substantially
L-shaped form and is provided so as to be connected integrally to
one end part of the grip portion 13a. A first through hole 26 for
inserting the support arm portion 13b inside the outer panel 18 is
provided in the first mounting seat 21 of the outer panel 18 and
the support member 14. The support arm portion 13b disposed within
the handle support portion 14a is pivotably supported on the handle
support portion 14a via a support pin 27. That is, one end part of
the operating handle 13 is pivotably supported on the outer panel
18 via the support member 14.
[0065] Referring in addition to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the base member
15 is formed from a hard synthetic resin, and integrally has a base
member main portion 15a disposed on the outside of the second
mounting seat 22 on the outer panel 18, a guide portion 15b
extending inside the outer panel 18 from a front part of the base
member main portion 15a so as to guide the guide arm portion 13c
provided so as to be connected to the other end part of the grip
portion 13a in the operating handle 13 at substantially right
angles, and a mounting portion 15c extending inside the outer panel
18 from a rear part of the base member main portion 15a. A thin
flat plate-shaped second seal member 28 formed from a resilient
material such as a rubber or a synthetic resin is disposed between
the second mounting seat 22 and at least a peripheral part of the
base member main portion 15a.
[0066] Provided on an end part on the depression 19 side of the
base member main portion 15a in the base member 15, that is a front
end part, is a recess 29 for receiving the other end part of the
grip portion 13a. The base member main portion 15a is thus formed
into a shape that can give the impression that the grip portion 13a
and the base member main portion 15a are integrated in a state in
which the receiving recess 29 receives the other end part of the
grip portion 13a. A rectangular insertion hole 30 into which the
guide arm portion 13c is inserted is provided in the receiving
recess 29 of the base member main portion 15a, and the guide
portion 15b is formed into an angular tube shape while being
connected to the insertion hole 30.
[0067] The mounting portion 15c is mounted on an end wall 38 at the
other end side of the front side door D, that is, on the rear end
side. Provided in the mounting portion 15c is a bottomed mounting
hole 33 extending in a direction that obliquely intersects the
outer panel 18 while having an axis that is inclined so as to move
away from the outer panel 18 in going to the rear of the vehicle. A
second nut 31 having a female thread 32 provided on its inner
periphery is fixed to an open end part of the mounting hole 33 by
press fitting.
[0068] On the other hand, provided in the end wall 38 on the rear
end side of the front side door D is a recess 39 that is recessed
forward in a part corresponding to the mounting portion 15c. The
recess 39 is formed so as to have at a blocked end a support plate
portion 39a that abuts against the tip of the mounting portion 15c,
that is, the second nut 31. Provided in the support plate portion
39a is an insertion hole 40 corresponding to the second nut 31. A
second bolt 42 having an enlarged diameter head portion 42a that
engages with the support plate portion 39a via a washer 41 is
inserted through the insertion hole 40, and by screwing the second
bolt 42 into the second nut 31 and tightening, the base member 15
is mounted on the front side door D.
[0069] The guide arm portion 13c, which integrally includes the
operating handle 13, is inserted into the guide portion 15b from
the insertion hole 30 of the base member 15 so as to be movable in
a direction substantially perpendicular to the outer panel 18. On
the other hand, a lever support part 44 is provided integrally with
the base member 15, a lever 46 is pivotably supported on the lever
support part 44 via a support shaft 45 extending in the
fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so as to be perpendicular to
the pivot axis of the operating handle 13, and the lever 46 engages
with and abuts against an abutment face 47 provided on the guide
arm portion 13c.
[0070] The lever 46 is formed so as to integrally have a
crank-shaped lever main portion 46a and a support tubular portion
46b provided so as to be connected at right angles to one side face
of an intermediate part of the lever main portion 46a while having
the support shaft 45 inserted therethrough. A shaft hole 48 through
which the support shaft 45 extends is provided in the support
tubular portion 46b and the lever main portion 46a
[0071] The lever support part 44 is provided on the base member 15
so as to be connected to the guide portion 15b, and is formed from
a pair of side walls 54 and 55 disposed on opposite sides of the
lever 46 and having coaxially provided therein support holes 56 and
57 respectively for supporting by insertion thereinto opposite end
parts of the support shaft 45 extending through the shaft hole 48
provided in the lever 46, the side walls 54 and 55 being provided
integrally so as to be connected to the guide portion 15b at right
angles.
[0072] One end part of the lever main portion 46a in the lever 46
is inserted into an opening 49 that is provided in the guide arm
portion 13c of the operating handle 13 and opens on opposite sides
on the left and right of the guide arm portion 13c. Slits 50 and 50
disposed on opposite sides of the opening 49 are provided in the
angular tube-shaped guide portion 15b so as to extend in the axial
direction of the guide portion 15b, and said one end part of the
lever main portion 46a is inserted into the opening 49 via one slit
50.
[0073] The abutment face 47 is formed on one side wall of the
opening 49 on the tip side of the guide arm portion 13c so as to
face outward, and a lever cover 51 formed from a synthetic resin
such as nylon having a low coefficient of friction is fitted onto
one end part of the lever main portion 46a so as to be in contact
with the abutment face 47.
[0074] A joint member 52 is fitted to the other end part of the
lever main portion 46a in the lever 46, and one end part of a rod
(not illustrated) for transmitting a door opening operating force
to a latch mechanism (not illustrated) provided on the front side
door D is linked to the joint member 52.
[0075] A return spring 53, which is a torsion spring surrounding
the support tubular portion 46b of the lever 46, is provided
between the lever 46 and the lever support part 44, one end part of
the return spring 53 is engaged with the lever main portion 46a of
the lever 46, and the other end part thereof is engaged with, among
the pair of side walls 54 and 55 forming the lever support part 44,
the side wall 54. The lever 46 having the lever cover 51 abutting
against the abutment face 47 is urged by virtue of the spring force
of the return spring 53 toward a non-operational position side, and
the operating handle 13 is spring-biased by the return spring 53
toward an open position side.
[0076] When the operating handle 13 is in a non-operated state, the
lever 46 is at the non-operational position shown in FIG. 6, and in
this process a closed state of the front side door D is maintained
by the latch mechanism. Furthermore, if the operating handle 13 is
operated when the latch mechanism is in a latch-released state, due
to operation of the guide arm portion 13c accompanying detachment
of the other end part of the operating handle 13 from the receiving
recess 29 of the base member 15, the lever 46 pivots in a
counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 6. The latch
mechanism thereby releases the closed state of the front side door
D, thus enabling the front side door D to be opened by operation of
the operating handle 13.
[0077] The holder 17 holding the switch 16 is fixed to an inner
face side of the base member 15 between the guide portion 15b and
the mounting portion 15c.
[0078] Focusing on FIG. 4, the switch 16 is disposed on a board 58,
and the board 58 is fixed to a tubular switch case 59 housing the
switch 16. Switching the switch 16 between ON and OFF is carried
out by means of a switch button 60, and the switch button 60 is
fitted onto the switch case 59 so as to cover the switch case 59.
When a pushing operation portion 60a of the switch button 60 is
pushed, the pushing operation portion 60a comes into resilient
contact with the switch 16.
[0079] The switch button 60 is formed into a bottomed and, for
example, rectangular tube shape from a resilient material so as to
have the pushing operation portion 60a in a blocked part at one
end, and an opening 61 that the pushing operation portion 60a faces
is provided in the base member main portion 15a of the base member
15.
[0080] The switch button 60 is thus held between the switch case 59
and the base member 15, and a collar portion 60b opposing an inner
face of the base member main portion 15a in the base member 15 at
the peripheral edge of the opening 61 is formed on the switch
button 60 so as to surround the pushing operation portion 60a.
[0081] Moreover, a tubular case cover 62 is fitted onto the outer
periphery of the switch button 60, the case cover 62 enhancing the
water resistance by preventing the switch button 60 from flexing
more than necessary when the pushing operation portion 60a is
pushed. The case cover 62 surrounding the switch button 60 is
fitted onto the switch button 60 so that its movement in the axial
direction is restricted by the collar portion 60b and an annular
projecting portion 60c projectingly provided integrally with the
outer periphery of the switch button 60.
[0082] The holder 17 integrally has a support plate portion 17a
that receives the other ends of the switch case 59 supporting the
switch 16 and the switch button 60 fitted to the switch case 59,
and a peripheral wall portion 17b connectedly provided at right
angles integrally with an outer peripheral part of the support
plate portion 17a so as to surround the switch 16 from the
periphery by fitting to and holding the other end side of the
switch button 60.
[0083] A rectangular opening 63 that the board 58 faces is provided
in the center of the support plate portion 17a. A harness 64 (see
FIG. 3) having one end part connected to the board 58 is guided
outside via the opening 63, and a coupler 65 is provided on the
other end part of the harness 64. Furthermore, the peripheral wall
portion 17b is formed into a rectangular tube shape so as to
correspond to the switch button 60.
[0084] Engagement holes 66 and 66, for example a pair, extending in
a direction along the axis of the mounting hole 33 and having one
end opening in a blocked part at the inner end of the bottomed
mounting hole 33 provided in the mounting portion 15c are provided
in the mounting portion 15c of the base member 15 so that the other
end opens on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 15c.
Provided integrally with the holder 17 are a pair of engagement
projections 17c and 17c each engaging with the other end parts of
the engagement holes 66. Moreover, the engagement projections 17c
are provided integrally with the holder 17 so as to protrude
obliquely outward from an end part, on the support plate portion
17a side, of the peripheral wall portion 17b.
[0085] In the first embodiment, the center of the pair of
engagement holes 66 is disposed at a position that is substantially
coincident with the central axis of the mounting hole 33, but the
center of the pair of engagement holes 66 may be disposed at a
position displaced from the central axis of the mounting hole
33.
[0086] Furthermore, provided in the peripheral wall portion 17b of
the holder 17 is a slit 68 through which the harness 64 can be
inserted, and projectingly provided on the peripheral wall portion
17b so as to sandwich the slit 68 therebetween are the two
engagement projections 17c and 17c.
[0087] Referring in addition to FIG. 7, a base end part of a
cylindrical mounting boss 69 is provided at right angles so as to
be connected integrally to the base member main portion 15a of the
base member 15 at a position such that the peripheral wall portion
17b of the holder 17 is sandwiched between the mounting boss 69 and
the mounting portion 15c. Provided so as to be connected integrally
to an outer peripheral part, excluding an extremity part, of the
mounting boss 69 are four ribs 70 disposed in a + shape so as to
extend radially from the central axis of the mounting boss 69.
[0088] On the other hand, a supporting projection portion 17d
having a fitting hole 71 into which an extremity part of the
mounting boss 69 is fitted is provided integrally with the
peripheral wall portion 17b of the holder 17 so as to protrude
outward. In a state in which the supporting projection portion 17d
having the extremity part of the mounting boss 69 inserted through
the fitting hole 71 is received by the ribs 70, a screw member 73,
which is a securing member that abuts against and engages with the
supporting projection portion 17d via a washer 72, is screwed into
the mounting boss 69. That is, the holder 17 having the engagement
projections 17c and 17c engaged with the engagement holes 66 and 66
is secured to the base member 15 by means of one screw member
73.
[0089] Fitted to a mounting face 74 that is formed on the base
member main portion 15a of the base member 15 and faces the second
mounting seat 22 side of the outer panel 18 is the second seal
member 28, which is held between the outer panel 18 and the
mounting face 74 in a state in which the base member 15 is mounted
on the front side door D.
[0090] The second seal member 28 is formed into a flat plate shape
having in a central part a through hole 75 in which the guide
portion 15b, the mounting portion 15c, the lever support part 44
and the holder 17 can be disposed, the guide portion 15b, the
mounting portion 15c, and the lever support part 44 being provided
on the base member 15, and the holder 17 being mounted on the base
member 15. Fitting holes 76, 77, 78, and 79 are provided in a
plurality, four in this embodiment, of locations spaced in the
peripheral direction of the inner peripheral part of the through
hole 75. Provided on the base member 15 are fitting projections 80,
81, 82, and 83 that are individually fitted into the fitting holes
76 to 79. By fitting each of the fitting projections 80 to 83 into
the corresponding fitting holes 76 to 79 the second seal member 28
is fitted to the mounting face 74.
[0091] On the other hand, engagement ear portions 17e and 17e are
projectingly provided integrally with upper and lower sides of the
peripheral wall portion 17b of the holder 17 so as to be flush with
the mounting face 74 and protrude sideways from the holder 17, the
engagement ear portions 17e and 17e having extremity parts thereof
abutting against and engaging with the second seal member 28 from
the side opposite to the outer panel 18.
[0092] The operation of the first embodiment is now explained.
Since the front side door D having one end part thereof pivotably
supported on the vehicle body B has the mounting portion 15c
mounted on the end wall 38 on the other end side, the mounting
portion 15c is provided integrally with the base member 15, and the
engagement projections 17c engaging with the engagement holes 66
provided in the mounting portion 15c are provided on the holder 17
housing and holding the switch 16, it is possible to decrease the
number of screw members when fixing the switch 16 to the base
member 15, thus reducing the number of components and the number of
assembly steps.
[0093] Moreover, since the mounting portion 15c is provided
integrally with the base member 15 while having the bottomed
mounting hole 33 extending in the direction obliquely intersecting
the outer panel 18 of the front side door D, and the engagement
holes 66 are formed so as to extend in the direction along the axis
of the mounting hole 33 and have one end opening in the blocked
part at the inner end of the mounting hole 33 and the other end
opening on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 15c, it is
possible to avoid the structure of a mould used when molding the
base member 15 becoming complicated, thus reducing the cost in
combination with reducing the number of components and the number
of assembly steps.
[0094] Furthermore, since the holder 17 in a state in which the
engagement projections 17c are engaged with the engagement holes 66
is secured to the base member 15 by means of one screw member 73,
it is possible to minimize the components required when fixing the
switch 16 to the base member 15, thus reducing the number of
components and the number of assembly steps.
[0095] Moreover, since the second seal member 28 held between the
outer panel 18 and the mounting face 74 in a state in which the
base member 15 is mounted on the front side door D is fitted to the
mounting face 74 formed on the base member 15 and faces the outer
panel 18 side, and the pair of upper and lower engagement ear
portions 17e abutting against and engaging with the second seal
member 28 from the side opposite to the outer panel 18 are provided
on the holder 17 so as to be flush with the mounting face 74 and
protrude sideways from the holder 17, it is possible to
provisionally assemble the holder 17 and the base member 15 in a
state in which the base member 15 is yet to be mounted on the front
side door D.
[0096] Moreover, even if a force from the outside of the front side
door D acts on the holder 17 due to the operation of the switch
button 60, part of the force can be received by the outer panel 18,
thus reducing the load acting on the part where the holder 17 is
mounted on the base member 15, sandwiching the second seal member
28 between the outer panel 18 and the base member 15 enables the
occurrence of noise to be prevented, and when the base member 15 is
made of metal, it is possible to prevent the base member 15 from
coming into direct contact with the outer panel 18, thus preventing
metal-to-metal contact.
[0097] Furthermore, since the holder 17 has the peripheral wall
portion 17b surrounding the switch 16 from the periphery, and the
slit 68, through which the harness 64 connected to one end part of
the switch 16 can be inserted, is provided in the peripheral wall
portion 17b, even if the coupler 65 is provided on the other end
part of the harness 64 or the harness 64 is clad with a cover in a
part projecting from the holder 17, it is possible to facilitate
assembly of the switch 16 and the holder 17 in a state in which the
harness 64 is connected.
[0098] Moreover, since the pair of engagement projections 17c are
projectingly provided on the peripheral wall portion 17b so as to
sandwich the slit 68 therebetween, it is possible to flex the
peripheral wall portion 17b so that the two engagement projections
17c move closer to or further away from each other, thus
facilitating an operation of engaging the engagement projections
17c with the engagement holes 66.
[0099] In the first embodiment above, the second nut 31 is fixed by
press fitting into the open end part of the mounting hole 33 of the
mounting portion 15c of the base member 15, but a bolt may be
mounted in the mounting hole 33 by thermal press fitting, and in
this process the engagement holes 66 exhibit a function of allowing
heat to escape from the mounting hole 33.
Second Embodiment
[0100] A second embodiment the present invention is now explained
by reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9; parts corresponding to those of
the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and
symbols and are only shown in the figures, duplication of the
detailed explanation therefore being omitted.
[0101] The holder 17 holding a switch 16 is disposed between the
guide portion 15b and the mounting portion 15c of the base member
15, and a pair of engagement projections 17c of the holder 17 are
engaged with engagement holes 66 provided in the mounting portion
15c of the base member 15 in the same manner as in the first
embodiment.
[0102] A columnar boss 85 is provided integrally with a base member
main portion 15a of the base member 15 at a position corresponding
to a supporting projection portion 17d provided on the holder 17 on
the side opposite to the mounting portion 15c. An extremity part of
the boss 85 forms a holder receiving face 86 that carries out
abutment from the side opposite to the direction in which the outer
panel 18 abuts against the engagement ear portions 17e via a second
seal member 28. Furthermore, a positioning projection 87 is
coaxially provided on the boss 85. The positioning projection 87
projects from the holder receiving face 86 and is fitted into a
fitting hole 71 of the support plate portion 17d.
[0103] In accordance with the second embodiment, when the holder 17
is provisionally assembled on the base member 15 by making the
engagement ear portions 17e of the holder 17 abut against and
engage with the second seal member 28, fitted to the mounting face
74 of the base member 15, from the side opposite to the outer panel
18, the holder 17 can more reliably be provisionally assembled on
the base member. Moreover, since the holder 17 is sandwiched
between the second seal member 28 and the holder receiving face 86,
in a state in which the base member 15 is mounted on the front side
door D the holder 17 can be fixed to the base member 15 and the
front side door D, and it is unnecessary to use a securing member
when fixing the holder 17 to the base member 15, thus further
reducing the number of components.
Third Embodiment
[0104] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention;
parts corresponding to those of the first and second embodiments
are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols and are only
shown in the figures, duplication of the detailed explanation
therefore being omitted.
[0105] A holder 89 housing and holding an electrical component 90
is disposed between the guide portion 15b and the mounting portion
15c of the base member 15, and a pair of engagement projections 89c
of the holder 89 are engaged with engagement holes 66 provided in
the mounting portion 15c in the base member 15 in the same manner
as in the first and second embodiments.
[0106] The holder 89 integrally has a supporting projection portion
89d having a fitting hole 71 and being disposed on the side
opposite to the mounting portion 15c, and integrally has engagement
ear portions 89e and 89e on upper and lower sides, extremity parts
of the engagement ear portions 89e and 89e abutting against and
engaging with a second seal member 28 from the side opposite to the
outer panel 18 (see the first and second embodiments).
[0107] In the same manner as in the second embodiment above, a
holder receiving face 86 provided on the base member 15 abuts
against the supporting projection portion 89d from the side
opposite to the direction in which the outer panel 18 abuts against
the engagement ear portions 89e via the second seal member 28. A
positioning projection 87 protruding from the holder receiving face
86 is fitted into a fitting hole 71 provided in the supporting
projection portion 89d.
[0108] The electrical component 90 is for example a camera that
takes an image outside the vehicle or an approach sensor that
detects a person approaching.
[0109] In accordance with the third embodiment, the same effects as
those of the second embodiment above can also be exhibited.
[0110] Embodiments of the present invention are explained above,
but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments above
and may be modified in a variety of ways as long as the
modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof.
* * * * *